Abstract
Drawing on our recent experiences in two research projects in interface design, we propose an alternative to the model of design research that uses generalizability as one of the fundamental criteria. Instead, we suggest that transferability is a more ‘designistic’ factor, and that by privileging transferability in the design research process, we shift design back into the centre of design research. Although this strategy remains to be explored in depth, we provide one example of this kind of research, which involves a number of moves to repurpose an interface for one domain (drama) and community of users (actors, directors, and students) to another domain (football) and a different community (players, coaches, and fans of the game).
Keywords
research quality, design-driven research, interface design
Citation
Chow, R., and Ruecker, S. (2006) Transferability – A Wonder on the Ground of Design Research, in Friedman, K., Love, T., Côrte-Real, E. and Rust, C. (eds.), Wonderground - DRS International Conference 2006, 1-4 November, Lisbon, Portugal. https://dl.designresearchsociety.org/drs-conference-papers/drs2006/researchpapers/97
Transferability – A Wonder on the Ground of Design Research
Drawing on our recent experiences in two research projects in interface design, we propose an alternative to the model of design research that uses generalizability as one of the fundamental criteria. Instead, we suggest that transferability is a more ‘designistic’ factor, and that by privileging transferability in the design research process, we shift design back into the centre of design research. Although this strategy remains to be explored in depth, we provide one example of this kind of research, which involves a number of moves to repurpose an interface for one domain (drama) and community of users (actors, directors, and students) to another domain (football) and a different community (players, coaches, and fans of the game).